Zambia’s head coach, Chisi Mbewe, has hinted at trying new players in this year’s COSAFA tournament, which kicked off on Wednesday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, South Africa.
Zambia, the defending champions, will begin their title defense on Thursday when they face Kenya in the opening match.
Speaking before the team departed from Lusaka on Wednesday morning, Mbewe expressed confidence in his squad despite acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“We planned to give chances to those who have not participated in the COSAFA. There is a group of players with experience; we just need to combine them and ensure that we also give others a chance to express themselves,” Mbewe said.
Mbewe shared his satisfaction with the team’s preparations over the past few days and emphasized their readiness to defend their title.
“We are happy with the way preparations have been going. The players look set and ready to defend the title.”
Looking ahead to their group-stage opponents, which include Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Comoros, Mbewe noted the tough competition, particularly from Zimbabwe.
“Stiff competition from our group. We have Zimbabwe, who have always wanted to beat Zambia, but the team looks ready mentally and physically,” he admitted.
Despite predicting a tough outing, Mbewe remains optimistic about Zambia’s prospects in the tournament. “The team looks ready for the tournament. We know it won’t be an easy task for us because we are the defending champions.”
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